Clasp



June 21, 1932. s. A. JOHNSON CLASP Filed Nov. 6. 1931 A TTORN E YS,

Patented June 21, 1%32 UNITED stares earner OFFICE SYLVES'IER. A. JOHNEON, GF NORTH PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR"TO ALBERT E. R. SPEIDEL, F EDGEWOOD, RHODE ISLAND CLASP Application filed November 6,1931. Seriallio. 573,359.

This invention relates to a clasp for attaching together the ends of a bracelet or the like, and has for one of its objects to provide a catch for releasably securing the center of a i watch bracelet so that the same may be easily detached from the arm of the wearer when desired.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a construction which will permit an initial movement to a position exposing the vision of a construction in which the clasp parts are not hingedly held in a desired relation to one another with the avoidance of swinging movement which is found awkward in manipulation.

210 Another object of this invention is the provision of a clasp of a unit construction which remains assembled, whether in release or secured position, rather than the mounting of one of its parts on one end of the bracelet and my another of its parts on another end of the bracelet.

A further object of thisinvention is the provision of a simple construction in which the loop for attaching the device to one end 30 of the bracelet is folded up with its end interlocked with the body of the device to provide a strong and'secure attachment for the bracelet end.

A still further object of this invention is T3,) the provision of a construction which will allow free swinging of the catch with relation to the end of the bracelet without the danger of the link releasing the clasp from secured position.

119 With these and other objects in view, the

invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

5 In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the clasp with; 7

bracelet links attached at either end thereof.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a construction shown in Fig. 1. F

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the clasp.

Fig. 4 isa top plan view-of theclasp with the top of the cover cut away to illustrate the interlocking of the end of the connecting loop and the locking of the slide member in. position.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 3 with the parts moved to a position to permit detachment of one of the end links from. the clasp.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the slide member.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view ofthe body member.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the slide and body members assembled and in secured position.

Fig. 9 is a section on line 9-9 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 10 is a section on line 10-10 ofFig. .9.

In the use of watch bracelets itis found desirable to provide a clasp intermediate-the ends of the bracelet which are secured to the watch to permit detachment and separation of the bracelet at its center for removal of the bracelet and watch from the wrist. It is also desirable to provide a construction which will permit such detachment to be under complete control of the wearer who may use but one hand for manipulation of the clasp whereby the bracelet and watch will not be dropped to injure the same, and,

in order to accomplish'these'results I have not be accidently depressed I have provided a cover to protect the compressible part against accidental depression; and the following is a detailed description of the pres ent embodiment of this invention, illustrating the preferred means by which these advantageous results may be accomplished.

lVith reference to the drawing, Fig. 7 illustrates in perspective, the. body member which comprises a bottom wall 15, side walls 16 provided with inturned flanges 17 and with a connecting portion 18 extending from the bottom wall 15 and folded upwardly acrossthe end and with its end portion 19 between the flanges 17. The end portion 19 of this tail is provided with lateral projections 20 to fit into recesses 21 in the flanges to lock the tail portion in position so that a bracelet link 22 attached to the portion 18 by means of the cross bar 23 passed through the openingQt will not dislodge the foldedup connecting portion from position.

The slide member shown in perspective in Fig. 6 consists of a bottom wall 25, side walls 26, a-hook 27 at one end and a resilient tongue 28 folded as at 29 from the other end and provided with a latch 30 having an abutment surface 31 for engagement with the catches 32 formed by providing notches 33 in the flanges 17 to retain this slide! member within the body member in a position so that the opening-34 to the hook 27 is closed by the finger portions 35 as illustrated in Fig. 3. The tongue may be depressed by engagement with the finger portion 36 on the tongue to release the latch 31 so that the slide may be withdrawn from the box to a limited extent to permit the cross bar 37 of the end link 38 to be lifted from the hook.

The slide is limited in its withdrawal by reason of the fold portion :29 engaging the pivot pin 39 which hingedly mounts the cover 40 in position on the body member. This co'ver'consists of a top wall with flanges 41 which closely engage the side walls 16 of the body, while the detents42 on the flanges may extend into recesses 43 on the side walls to retain this cover in closed position.

' This cover serves to obscure the less attractive construction and notch mechanism of the clasp and also serves the purpose of preventing access to the finger portion 36 for depressing the same to move the slide to released position. By this construction, an operator may, with a single hand, manipulate the catch by ea silydepressing the tongue through the finger piece 36 and moving this upwardly extending finger piece by sliding the same to open position, while yet permitting the bracelet to be retained in encircling position. After this movement has been accomplished, the end link 38 of the chain may be engaged and lifted from the hook which is rigidly secured to the other end of the bracelet for detachment of the end link from the body member and the parts one from the other, thus affording perfectly controlled action and one in which the liability of dropping the watch on the floor is reduced to a minimum. To assemble, the operation is substantially reversed.

The foregoing decription is directed solely towards the construction illustrated, but I desire it to be understood that I reserve the privilege of resorting to all the mechanical changes to which the device is susceptible, the invention being defined and limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A bracelet clasp comprising a body member of generally box shape, means for attaching it to one end of the bracelet, a sheet metal slide member therein of a width substantially that of the box and provided with a hook to engage a bracelet link, the opening to which hook is exposed upon outward movement of the slide for receiving the bracelet link, a resilient tongue on said slide member of a substantial width, said tongue having an abutment therein formed by folding of the stock out of the plane of the surface of the tongue, and an abutment on said body member to be engaged by said abutment in said tongue for retaining the slide member in securing position.

2. A bracelet clasp comprising a body member, means for attaching it to one end of the bracelet, a slide member therein provided with a hook to engage a bracelet link, the opening towhich hook is exposed upon outward movement of the slide for receiving the bracelet link, a resilient tongue on said slide member, a latch formed by deflecting the stock of said tongue to provide a cavity below and a projection above the surface thereof and a catch carried by said body member for engaging said latch, and a cover on body member for locking said slide in positlon.

3. A bracelet clasp comprising a body member of generally box shape, means for attaching it to one end of the bracelet, a sheet metal slide member therein of a width substantially that of the'box and provided with a hook to engage a bracelet link, the opening to which hook is exposed upon outward movement of the slide for receiving the bracelet link, a resilient tongue on said slide member of a substantial width, said tongue having an abutment therein formed by folding of the stock out of the plane of the surface of the tongue, and an abutment on said body member to be engaged by said abutment in said tongue for retaining the slide member in securing position, and a cover on said body member to obstruct access to said slide retaining means.

4. A bracelet clasp comprising a body member having top and side walls, means for at taching it to one end of the bracelet, a slide member therein between said side wallsprovided with a hook to engage a bracelet link,

the opening to which hook is exposed upon outward movement of the slide for receiving the bracelet link, a resilient tongue on said slide member, a latch carried by said tongue and a catch carried by said body member for engaging said latch, and a finger piece on said tongue formed by folding the stock of said tongue to provide a projection and manually engageable to rel-ease said latch from said catch.

5. A bracelet clasp comprising a body member having top and side walls, means for attaching it to one end of the bracelet, a slide member therein between said side walls provided with a hook to engage a bracelet link, the opening to which hook is exposed upon outward movement of the slide for receiving the bracelet link, a resilient tongue on said slide member, a latch formed by deflecting the stock of said tongue to provide a cavity below and a projection above the surface thereof and a catch carried by said body member for engaging said latch, and a finger piece on said tongue manually engageable to release said latch from said catch.

6. A bracelet clasp comprising a body member, means for attaching it to one end of the bracelet, a slide member therein provided with a hook to engage a bracelet link, the opening to which hook is exposed upon outward movement of the slide for receiving the bracelet link, means for limiting the relative outward movement of said slide and body members, a resilient tongue on said slide member, a latch carried by said tongue and a catch carried by said body member for engaging said latch, said catch being formed with notches in the body member.

7. A bracelet clasp comprising a body member having a bottom wall, side walls with inturned flanges and a portion folded from said bottom wall to form a loop for connection with a link. and with its end portion lying between said flanges and interlocking therewith, a slide member within said body member provided with a hook at one end to engage a bracelet link and a resilient tongue at the other end of said slide member forming a latch for engagement with portions of said flanges to hold the slide in retaining position, said tongues being depressible to release the same from the body member.

8. A bracelet clasp comprising a body member having a bottom wall with inturned flanges, catches formed by notches in said flanges, a slide member within said body member provided with a hook at one end to engage a bracelet link. and a resilient tongue carried by said slide member forming a latch for engagement with said catches to hold the slide in retaining position, said tongue being depressible to release the same from the catches.

9. A bracelet clasp comprising a body memher having a bottom wall, side walls with in- SYLVESTER- A. JOHNSON. 

